Message: If you could stay any where in DC for a three day weekend, (Presidents Day) where would you stay? Coming in to Union Station, me my wife, no kids. Want to get to museums, the general DC stuff

Well, there are many hotels that are central to the museums and other attractions. Depends on your price range. JW Marriott, Willard, Grand Hyattt and Marriott Metro Center are a few that come to mind. All within walking distance to museums, White House etc. and metro for transportation.

If I could stay anywhere, price no object, I would choose the Willard.

I would check prices at quickbook.com or capitalreservations.com.

My suggestion would be to pick a hotel close to the Metro so access to the city is easy. I prefer staying in the Dupont Circle area. There is an Embassy Suites and a Radison--both nice and close to Metro. Dupont Circle is home to a host of very good and reasonable places to eat.

Focus your hotels options on what places you closets to the Mall and downtown. J W Marriott was mentioned ... look no further. For price and location, you cannot beat it. And get a DC Access Guide and a Zagats. have a nice trip. Ciao

Jose:

Go to: lodging.com. There is a Best Western in S.W. section of D.C. that looks like it would be near everything. A nice place to stay outside of D.C., would be Old Towne, Alexandria, VA, just across the Potomac and on Yellow Line of Subway.

If price is no object, then the Willard or the Mayflower. The Mayflower is near Dupont Circle, but the particular block or so that the Mayflower is on is not great. Since you are coming into Union Station, you may consider The Hotel George, a new upscale hotel near Union Station and Capital Hill. As for the Best Western in SW, most of SW is rather dangerous. I looked at the BW that was suggested and it is in the middle of an amazingly busy area, lots of traffic noise.

the above poster is right. I would not stay at that best western for safety reasons. You are not going to want to walk to the mall and museums from that area.

Is that the Best Western on South Capitol Ave? If so, yikes! Bad area, don't stay there.

To everyone:

I've lived in D.C. and they do have taxis. They can take one from Capitol to say somewhere in the Smithsonian area. Since this is a family, I'm sure they are not going out much at night anyway to party. If they are, I would suggest Georgetown. Nice quaint restaurants. Also, not everyone can stay at the extremely overpriced Mayflower. There is also a Best Western in Old Towne, Alexandria, VA with a colonial theme.

Actually, the original poster said it's just him and his wife- no kids.

we're planning a trip to DC also. Here's what I've found:

great rates at the Embassy Square Suites, Washington Suites Georgetown, and believe it or not, The Willard!! Check out their web site for some terrific specials: $199/nite, with upgraded room as one option.

All these hotels are in good locations.

There is also another hotel (sorry I can't remember which) that's offering an Amtrack Union Station special for $139/nite. You need to present your train ticket upon arrival in order to qualify for the rate. Try searching the web for this, it should pop up.

I love the Westin Fairfax (the old Ritz Carlton) on Mass Ave NW at Dupont Circle. Very classy and oh-so-convenient to Metro.

I agree - the Willard is fantastic and in a great location. The Radisson Barcelo is also a great location - convenient to both Georgetown and Dupont, with metro access to get you anywhere. And the Sunday brunch at Gabriel, right in the hotel, is amazing. Depends on what you want to do in the evenings and what you would like to have within walking distance (Dupont is a great neighborhood for restaurants and bars, not so much for museums and sightseeing, whereas there's not a ton of fun restaurants and nighttime stuff downtown or near the mall, but obviously it's perfect for daytime activities). I would not stay in Georgetown because there are no convenient metro stops.

Money no object?...the Hay-Adams.

If you want a hip boutique hotel...try Hotel George (within walking of Union Station) or the new Topaz Hotel. Another is Hotel Rouge, but I'm not sure it is open yet.

I'd definitely stay at the Willard or Hays-Adam if money were no object; more realistically maybe the Mayflower as it is perhaps a little more central and right next to a metro.

I don't know if it was a joke, but I can't believe anyone would recommend a Best Western on South Capitol street to someone who says where would you stay if you could stay anywhere in DC. That should get a prize for the worst advice I've ever seen on this board.

The Hay-Adams is closed for renovations. Anyone know anything about the Carlton? Friends stayed there several years ago and loved it.

The Carlton is a lovely 8-floor hotel, conveniently located on K Street. I was going to reccomend it in my last post, but it is not called the Carlton anymore, and I cannot think of the new name!

Whenever I go to a big city, I like to stay in an area that is lively at night, regardless of where I'll be spending the daylight hours. So, in DC it is the Dupont Circle area -- easy access to all the museums, historic sites, etc., via Metro or cheap taxi ride (though there are some fine small museums around Dupont too -- Phillips, Textiles), plus plenty of choices for dinner and a pleasant area for postprandial strolling.
In the Dupont area (that's within about 4 blocks of 19th, Mass, & P) there are plenty of hotels in all price ranges and restaurant in a dozen cuisines and prices from cheap to $$$$.

Carlton = St Regis, I think